Dia daoibh agus fáilte ar ais chuig bliain eile i saol Chumann Thír Chonaill!

We, The Donegal Association, are looking forward to more exciting events and functions this year. We do hope that you will join us for some if not all our upcoming events. To start us off we have:

AGM: Wednesday Oct 25th at 8pm in The Bonnington Dublin, Swords Rd, Whitehall D9

Annual Mass of Remembrance: Sunday Nov 12th at 6.30pm in The Bonnington Dublin, Swords Rd, Whitehall D9

Announcement of Donegal Person of the Year: Friday 19th Jan, 2018…more details to follow!

Annual Gala Ball: Sat 3rd March, 2018…more details to follow!

On Friday, 8th of September The Donegal Association in Dublin hosted a fundraising table quiz in Dtwo on Harcourt Street. Finín Mac a Bhaird was MC for the evening and kicked proceedings off shortly after 8pm. He spoke of how the Donegal Association were glad to be able to help and host an event for the victims of the recent floods in Donegal.

Stephen McCahill travelled from Ardara to be there on the night and said a few words about the association and their work in Dublin. Peggy Stringer from the Donegal Association Committee who hails from Inishowen spoke of the devastation the recent floods have caused in local communities with people’s livelihoods being wiped out. Over €7,000 was raised for this very worthy cause. (Final figure to be finalised as donations are still coming in).

In light of recent flooding in Donegal, the Donegal Association in Dublin are organizing a fund raising evening for the flood victims.

The event will take place in Dtwo, Harcourt Street on Friday, 8th of September. There will be a drinks promotion from 5-11pm, finger food at 6.30pm, and table quiz with registration starting at 7.30pm. Admission is €12 which includes entry into D2 niteclub. Maximum 5 people per quiz team.

Those who wish to donate to the Inishowen Flood Fundraiser please email FLOOD and the amount you wish to donate to info@donegalassociation.ie. You will receive an email from PayPal enabling you to complete your donation. You don’t need a PayPal account to complete the transaction, just card details.

Photo Front L-R: Chairperson of Donegal Association Elaine Caffrey, Clinical Psychologist with Cancer Care West Charlene Haughey, Local Organiser with Cancer Care West Grainne McGettigan and Tony Dunlevy.
Back L-R: Mairead Slowey, 2016 Donegal Person of the Year Stephen McCahill, Cróna O Donnell, Siobhan Shovlin, Marian Caffrey and Kathleen Sheerin. Photo Credit: John McConnell (JMAC Photography)

Members of the Donegal Association in Dublin were delighted to attend the Annual Charity Barbeque in The Corner House Bar, Ardara on Sunday, 20th of August. The barbeque was held in memory of Gerard and Margaret Slowey and proceeds were in aid of Cancer Care West, Woodhill Resource Centre and Downstrands Resource Centre. The fine food and great display of local talent on show made the evening one to remember and the Slowey Family deserve great credit for organising this event so well.

Committee members were afforded the opportunity to present a cheque for €5550 to Cancer Care West which was raised on the night of the 2016 Donegal Person of the Year Gala Ball at the barbeque. Cancer Care West was originally established as The Leukaemia Trust in 1993. In March 2007 Cancer Care West opened a residential facility, Inis Aoibhinn at University Hospital Galway. This was followed in July 2009 with the opening of a dedicated Cancer Support Centre at Westside, Galway. Both these facilities have supported thousands of people affected by cancer and Cancer Care West continues to expand a range of support services with the establishment of a Psycho-Oncology service, Patient and Family Support Programme and Support Services for Children. Cancer Care West provides practical and emotional supports and services to cancer patients and their families. They provide training for Oncology medical, nursing and hospital based staff to support them in their work. They also fund a small number of patient focused research projects. Donegal Cancer Support Service which comes under the umbrella of Cancer Care West launched a new support service in Letterkenny this year for families affected by cancer. The Donegal Association in Dublin were delighted to present this cheque to such a well deserving charity which will help many patients and their families in Donegal and wider regions.

In other news, The Donegal Association are organising an event to climb Mount Errigal on Saturday, August 26th at approximately 11am. Please contact Marian on 087 2517225 to join. Please follow the Donegal Association Dublin on Facebook for updates on all events or you may wish to join the association on www.donegalassociation.ie

On Saturday night, 4th of March over five hundred people turned out to honour Stephen McCahill as the 2016 Donegal Person of the Year in the Regency Hotel, Dublin. Stephen was joined by his family, friends and many people from Ardara and Glenties and the surrounding areas. It was lovely that both Stephen’s children Steven and Gemma could fly in from New York to be there to celebrate his special night with him and his wife Marietta. Many of Stephen’s friends and colleagues from the Corner House Bar also joined him in celebrating this special accolade. Siobhan Shovlin, MC for the night, kicked off the proceedings shortly after 8.30pm. Stephen was escorted into the room by the President of the Donegal Association Hugh Harkin with piper Kieran Kennedy creating a wonderful starting atmosphere.

Cathaoirleach, Elaine Caffrey thanked those present for making the huge effort to come out and support the function. Elaine paid tribute to the wonderful committee and in particular Kathleen Sheerin for her many years of service to the association. She thanked the Donegal Association’s sponsors for their support and the local media who cover all our events.

Last year’s winner, Deirdre McGlone reflected on her year as Donegal Person of the Year and even told Stephen that she busked outside the Corner House Bar years ago. She spoke of the great pride she takes in our county which is now rated the ‘Coolest Place in the Planet’ and how she will continue to promote the county. She wished Stephen every success in the coming year.

Hugh Harkin, President of the Association, spoke of the economic struggles in Co. Donegal and the importance of people like Stephen in revitalising towns and becoming involved in initiatives for the betterment and improvement of small villages.

Guests in attendance were then treated to some fantastic entertainment starting with a video about Stephen which showed many of his family and friends from Donegal paying tribute to Stephen and telling stories about his early years. The interval act was provided by the wonderful Paddy Mc Menamin on the fiddle.

The man of the moment, Stephen later addressed the crowd and spoke about how honoured he is to have won the Donegal Person of the Year award and spoke of how proud his mother is about it all. He spoke about the uncertainty which exists in society at the moment with events such as Brexit and as a result of political uncertainty people are turning towards the community again. He stated that he is just a symbol for the community and the great work being carried out in the community. He fondly looked back on attending the Donegal Association events when he lived in Dublin and how it provided a link with home at a time when there wasn’t the same access to Donegal as there is today. Stephen also recognised the great work being carried out by Donegal people all over the world and that regardless of whether they are successful in what they do anyone who tries hard deserves credit and respect.

There was a special prize for ‘The Best Dressed Lady’. The winner was Mary Breslin from Ardara who walked away with a wonderful voucher for Chophouse. The raffle this year was in aid of Cancer Care West who hope to establish a centre in Letterkenny this year. There were some wonderful prizes on offer including return flights to Donegal, hotel vouchers and much more. It was fantastic to have board member of Cancer Care West Professor Frank Sullivan present to draw the tickets and say a few words about the charity. The night was a fitting tribute to Stephen and the Donegal Association in Dublin wish him well for the year ahead.

DONEGAL ASSOCIATION DUBLIN – 2016 Donegal Person of the Year Announced!

Stephen McCahill, a native of Glenties, has been named Donegal Person of the Year for 2016. The announcement was held in The Black Door Piano Bar on Harcourt Street in Dublin on Friday, 20th of January much to the delight of the large crowd in attendance.

Stephen is the third in the family of Packie McCahill and Eileen (nee Gallagher) from Ardara, Stephen’s mother still resides outside Glenties. He was born in 1959 and grew up in Glenties and attended St. Columba’s Comprehensive School in Glenties and the Regional College in Letterkenny. Stephen worked with Lyons Tea as a national sales representative and later became a quality control officer with Moracrete in Clondalkin. In 1981 Stephen moved back to Donegal where he took up a position as quality control manager with Campbell Seafoods in Killybegs and spent six years with the company, he later worked with Joe Murrin as a marketing manager. In 1991 Stephen set up his own company Glenard Fish which organised the sales of fresh fish. Stephen is still involved in the fishing industry in Killybegs. Stephen is married to Marietta and they have two children, Steven and Gemma. Stephen and his family reside outside Ardara.

Stephen is very honoured to be chosen as the recipient of the Donegal Person of the Year and feels extremely privileged that he has been chosen as the 2016 Donegal Person of the Year and acknowledges the quality of the Past Persons of the Year and spoke of the high respect that he holds Deirdre McGlone (Outgoing Person of the Year) in. He remembers fondly attending the Donegal Person of the Year functions in the past and is very excited about the year ahead. Stephen is very passionate about the promotion of our county and is very passionate about community involvement and the importance of keeping the community alive and vibrant. He believes a community needs to be kept alive and there is no place better than your own people and your own community.

Last year’s winner of the Donegal Person of the Year, Deirdre McGlone attended the Official Announcement and reflected on her time as the recipient of this prestigious award. She said it was a great honour for her to receive such an award and thanked the Donegal Association for their support over the year.

The Donegal Association Dublin held their Annual Mass for the deceased members of the Association and their families, on Sunday 13th November at the Regency Hotel. A large crowd attended which was celebrated by Fr. Conor McGee who has connections with Arranmore Island. Fr.Michael McCullagh and Fr. Charlie Cunningham concelebrated this mass. This is a special occasion for the Association to remember our dear members and friends that passed away during the year. It was lovely to have family and friends of the deceased members at the mass and to remember them together. Maria McCool and Donal Boyle provided the fabulous music at the mass and really helped to make it a special occasion. The 40th anniversary of the Carraig Una tragedy and its five crew members were remembered along with the 19 Arranmore islanders who drowned in 1935. The Donegal Association Dublin was founded as a result of the Arranmore disaster.

Afterwards, the Fr. McDyer Memorial Lecture was delivered by Helen Meehan, of the Donegal
Historical Society. Her lecture was on “Donegal in the years leading to 1916”. Helen spoke about Donegal and its involvement with 1916 and the many local people involved in various events. She gave an excellent insight into the environment and the activity that was happening on the ground in Donegal in the lead up to 1916. Many Donegal people were involved in key parts of the rising in
Dublin and Helen outlined the different roles that they played at these critical events. She has huge knowledge on the topic and kept the large audience interested throughout her lecture.

Who will be the 2016 Donegal Person of the Year? Join us at 6.30pm on the 20th of January in The Black Door to find out!

The Donegal Association in Dublin will announce the latest Donegal Person of the Year at a function in The Black Door on Dublin’s Harcourt Street on Friday 20th January from 6.30pm.

The current Donegal Association Person Of the Year is award-winning hotelier Deirdre McGlone from Harvey’s Point. The Donegal Person of the Year award was first presented to Fr James McDyre in 1978 and has become a popular annual fixture with a gala awards function to be held in March.

On Thursday evening, the 8th of December the Donegal Association in Dublin hosted their Christmas event and were delighted to have former Donegal champion Donal Reid present to sign copies of his book ‘Confessions of a Gaelic Footballer’. The event kicked off in Cassidy’s Bar, Camden Street after 6.30pm with Anthony Molloy present as the special guest. There was a great turnout on the night which consisted of Donegal people living in Dublin and fans from other parts of the country. All proceeds from the book and the raffle on the night went towards Pieta House who hope to build a centre in Donegal in 2017.

Committee Members acknowledge the incredible achievements of Professor William Campbell, winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize for Medicine

On Thursday evening 29^th September, members of the Committee of the Donegal Association Dublin met with Professor William Campbell, winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2015 in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin. 

Prof. Campbell was awarded the prize for his part in discovering avermectins, which kill infection-causing parasitic roundworms. In 1987, along with his employer, Merck Research Laboratories, he played a leading role in distributing the cure for river blindness to millions of people in what has become known as a case study in excellence of public-private partnerships in international health. Prof. Campbell is only the second Irish scientist to win a Nobel Prize, after Ernest Walton in 1951.

Prof. Campbell is a native of Ramelton but has lived near Boston, Masssachusetts for many years  and was visiting Ireland to receive a number of awards following his Nobel Prize Award. As committee members we were all in awe of this man and of his achievements, however not only is he a great scientist but he is also a most humble and unassuming man. He also told us of his interest in art and in writing poetry.

During the evening the President of the Donegal Association Dublin, Hugh Harkin and Chairperson Elaine Caffrey presented Professor Campbell with a scroll and Donegal Pens in recognition of his achievements.